m * MIDDLE RUN Predestinarian Baptist Church. The present frame church was constmcted 121 years ag e on th e foundation of th e oldbrickchurch. Hand made bricks from th e former church were used in its foundation. THE XENIA DAILY GAZETTE Saturday, Nov emb er4,1972 Middle Run Church boasts 173-year link with past By GEORGE C. CH AD WICK The spirit of a bygone era of the hearty pioneer circuit rid er and th e old time religion ar e maintained today in the historic Little Miami iver Valley near Waynesville by a nearly forgotten religious soci ety. Today, amidst orbital space flights and modem drive - in churches, a faithful congrega tion of 20 makes monthly pil grimagesto at te ndal l - da y ser vices at th e Middle Ru n P re dest inarian Baptis t Church. The church is locatfid atop a highhill in a serene rural area just three miles northwest of Waynesville on the Waynes ville - Beilbrook Rd. I t over looks Middle Run Creek, from which it derives its name. There, on the fourth Sunday of each month, a faithful few lift their hearts in praise in an atmosphere permeated by the spir its of founding fathers who keep silent vigil from a nearby pion eer grave yard. Old fashioned all - day se r vices ar e conducted by t h e pastor Elder Robert Shockley of Camden. assisted by Elder Hugh Motsinger both ordained ministers. At noon, basket ilunches are enjoyed on t h e •church s shaded lawn. YELLOWED pages of a I church history in legible 8th century script are inscribed: The Baptist Omrch at Middle •Run Constituted 27 July, 1799. It was in 1797 that Gen. Wil liam Buc k1e s, one of the church s founders, his wfe, 'Eleanor Seamon Buckles, an d his mother, Sarah Gerrard Buckles, came to settle at Mid dl e Run. Gen. Buckles wa s born near Fredericksburg, Va., on Sept. 30 1766. His family s farm ad joined that of George Washing ton Pioneer founders besides th e Buckles family were William and Elizabeth Biit, John and Mary Buckles Daniel Wilson and Mary McGrew. First ser vices were conducted in a log church erected in 1799 near the present frame meeting house. Daniel Wilson was the first member to be baptized in Mid dle Run Creek on die day of Ifoimding.
